News

NSBC Member Connection E-Newsletter

Sponsored by Walsh Marine! News and updates about NSBC programs, industry happenings, member spotlights and more from the National Safe Boating Council. In this issue: Watch 2021 IBWSS Sessions, Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day Highlights, 50th Anniversary of the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971, New Admiral Club Member: Athletic Brewing Company, 15% off NSBC Store, NSBC Training, and more.

Boaters: 5 Things You Can Do to Take the ‘Search’ out of Search and Rescue

“Do I know how to be found in an emergency?” That’s a question every boater should ask at the beginning of the boating season. The answer, however, is likely to go far beyond simply having a cellphone aboard. The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water offers five tips that can potentially speed a rescuer’s response to a boater in need of emergency help.

A Proclamation of National Safe Boating Week, 2021

Each year during National Safe Boating Week, the Coast Guard and an array of Federal, State, and local partners help save lives and guard against accidents by highlighting safe boating practices.

Garmin Helps Raise Awareness of National Safe Boating Week

Sponsored by the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC), National Safe Boating Week is a global effort dedicated to promoting safe boating practices. In 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, the U.S. Coast Guard reported 4,168 boating accidents that resulted in 2,559 injuries, 613 fatalities and $55 million in property damage.

US Sailing Reach Initiative Publishes 2020 Impact Report

The US Sailing Reach Initiative has released its 2020 Impact Report. Launched in 2012, Reach is US Sailing’s STEM education initiative. Since its inception, Reach has had an immeasurable impact on youth across the country who are learning Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) concepts using sailing as an educational platform.

NOAA and National Safe Boating Council Continue National Safe Boating Week Partnership

For the annual celebration of National Safe Boating Week, held May 22-28, 2021, the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) National Weather Service encourage boaters to follow health and safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and local officials while boating responsibly.

Fifty Years of Safe Boating

Recreational boating experienced a boom in the mid-20th century as Americans turned to the water in droves in the postwar years. The number of US-registered boats skyrocketed from less than half a million to five and a half-million during the 1950s and ’60s. But this newfound popularity came at a price: More than 1,580 deaths a year resulted from boating accidents by 1971.

US Sailing Names Alan Ostfield Chief Executive Officer

US Sailing today announced Alan Ostfield (Pittsburgh, Pa.), an accomplished sports and entertainment industry leader, as the Association’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Ostfield will take the helm of US Sailing, the sport’s National Governing Body (NGB), following an extensive national executive search.

NSBC Member Connection E-Newsletter

Sponsored by Walsh Marine! News and updates about NSBC programs, industry happenings, member spotlights and more from the National Safe Boating Council. In this issue: Free IBWSS Registration, Annual Boating Awareness Survey, Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day (May 21, 2021), U.S. Coast Guard New Law, Partner Profile: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 15% off NSBC Store, NSBC Training, and more.

International Boating and Water Safety Summit Offers Free Virtual Registration

The International Boating and Water Safety Summit (IBWSS), a global networking and education opportunity for anyone involved in boating and water safety, will be held virtually from May 17-19, 2021 with free registration. IBWSS will explore “Partnerships for Progress” – a close look at how recreational boating and water safety communities collaborate to save lives around the world.

2021 Special Report: New Outdoor Participant (COVID and Beyond)

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, more Americans have turned to the outdoors, some for the first time and others for the first time in many years. These new outdoor participants represent an unprecedented opportunity to grow and diversify the outdoor community. But to capitalize on this opportunity, we need to better understand these participants.

Feedback Needed: Engine Cut-Off Device Technology

Engine cut-off technology stops the boat’s engine should the operator unexpectedly fall. Please complete a survey to share your feedback on the development of public outreach materials.

NSBC Member Connection E-Newsletter

Sponsored by Walsh Marine! News and updates about NSBC programs, industry happenings, member spotlights and more from the National Safe Boating Council. In this issue: Free IBWSS Registration, Feedback Needed on Engine Cut-Off Technology, Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day (May 21, 2021), U.S. Coast Guard New Law, Partner Profile: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 15% off NSBC Store, NSBC Training, and more.

5 Ways to Get Your Boat’s VHF Radio Ready for the Season

In recreational boating, cellphones are just fine for routine communications. So why do you need a VHF radio – either a handheld or fixed mount – on your boat? Because in an emergency it’s the only thing that can directly connect you to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Rescue 21 system, giving you access to high-tech emergency response and Digital Selective Calling (DSC) capabilities that can hasten your rescue.

Anchorline

You don’t want to miss this issue of Anchorline, the National Safe Boating Council’s quarterly newsletter sponsored by Rolyan® Buoys! IN THIS ISSUE: New Law Requiring Use of Engine Cut-Off Switches, Keep Your Waterways Safe All Year, Free Registration for IBWSS, Captain Johnson to Retire from U.S. Coast Guard, NSBC New Board Members, Celebrating the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971, National Safe Boating Week is May 22-28, Q&A with NSBC Program Coordinator Carrie Schlemmer, and more!

New USCG Engine Cut-off Switch Wear Requirement

Over the last three years (2018-2020), Congress has passed two laws requiring, first, that manufacturers install engine cut-off switches on recreational vessels and, second, that recreational vessel operators use those engine cut-off switches.